Recipe of the Week: Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

In the tradition of our favorite cranberry sauce recipe, here's a recipe for Thanksgiving stuffing that's fast, easy, and delicious. We owe it to blogger and photographer Tara Whitney, who's participating in a fun project called Lazy Susan. She and a handful of other bloggers are sharing their favorite seasonal recipes for you to click through as though you're spinning a lazy susan. Visit her blog for photos of the stuffing dish.

Ingredients:

1 box of dressing, such as Mrs. Cubbison’s Class Seasoned Dressing (or two 6 ounce bags)
1 pound sage sausage, chopped
2 green apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup butter
1 cup pecans

How to Make It:

1. Saute the sausage and the onions until the sausage is browned and the onions are golden.

2. Melt the butter in a large bowl and add the stuffing to the bowl. Stir and coat. Add the celery, apples, and pecans. You may want to crush the pecans first with the butt of a knife, which is easier to do while they're still in the bag.

3. Add the chicken broth to the bowl and stir everything, coating it well. Drain the sausage and onions and add those to the mix.

4. Cook it in a casserole dish or stuff your turkey with it, following the directions on the box.


Do you call it stuffing or dressing? How did this recipe turn out for you? Post your comments here!

Tip of the Day: Winterize Your Deck Furniture

To keep your metal deck furniture free from rust and wear all winter long, reach for the petroleum jelly. Just apply a thin layer (especially in areas where the furniture tends to rust) after cleaning the surface with simple soap and water.

Five Easy Tips for Hassle-Free Thanksgiving Turkey

Nothing's worse than a ruined Thanksgiving turkey (don't ask us how we know that). Whether you're having Thanksgiving at your house or you're looking for a quick turkey tip to impress your hosts, we have a tip for you! Visit our website to find out how to thaw a turkey, get rid of an "off" smell, make sure it's tender, and more.

Tip of the Day: Sneak A-tack

Hanging a picture? Make it easy by first taping a thumbtack (pointy side out) to the back below the hanging bracket. Perfectly position your picture, then give it a bit of a push into the wall. You’ll now know where to put the nail or tack because there will be a small hole in the wall.

Tip of the Day: Gimme Some Sugar

If you have ink stains on your hands from a marker or pen, try this: Just add a bit of sugar to your hands when washing with regular soap, and the granules will act as a gentle abrasive to help wash the ink away.

Tip of the Day: Garlic A-Peel

Here’s an easy way to remove the skins from garlic! Just break the cloves off from the head and place them in a bowl or mug. Place another bowl on top and shake heartily. The skins will start to come off, making the garlic easy to peel.

Tip of the Day: Quick Purse Cleaning

Even after you’ve cleaned out your purse, it stills has crumbs, grime, and little pieces of god-only-knows-what at the bottom. Quickly clean it out with a lint roller. Just roll the inside and you’re done!

Tip of the Day: Put Plastic Bags to Use

Here’s yet another use for larger plastic bags you get from the store: Put one over a roller tray anytime you’re painting with a roller. When the job is done, just pull off the bag and turn inside-out to throw away, and the tray is ready to be used again!

Recipe of the Week: Spiced Cranberry Sauce

This month, we'll be giving you new and interesting Thanksgiving recipes that will spice up your traditional menu while still being quick and easy to prepare. We were excited to find a group of bloggers who have embarked on a project called "Lazy Susan." Much like the revolving tray it's named for, this project allows you to spin through a virtual wheel of recipes posted by women all over the country. Blogger Amy of A Boring Photo shared her recipe for spiced cranberry sauce.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup agave or 3/4 cup honey
2 whole cloves
1 tablespoons orange zest
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 bay leaf
12 ounces cranberries

How to Make It:

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the cranberry cocktail and the agave over medium heat until the agave dissolves. Set 1/4 cup of the juice aside.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients except the cranberries and let simmer for 5 minutes or so.

3. Add the cranberries and simmer on medium heat until the berries burst and the sauce thickens.

4. Remove the bay leaf, and remove the sauce from the heat. Add the remaining cranberry juice. It will thicken once it’s cool.

This can be made up to three days in advance! Keep it refrigerated.


Do you have a Thanksgiving recipe to share? Let us know!

Tip of the Day: Linen Prep for Thanksgiving!

If you have a white linen tablecloth or other cotton item that has turned yellow over time, bring it back to its original brightness with baking soda and salt. Just bring a gallon of water to a boil, remove from the heat, stir in ¼ cup each baking soda and salt, and add the fabric. Let it soak for at least one hour. Then rinse and launder as usual.